Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The quiet of the night in Gaya community, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was shattered on Monday, August 17, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault that claimed the lives of eight people, including a police inspector. The attackers, who emerged from the direction of the Sambisa Forest, invaded the community under cover of darkness, set two houses ablaze and killed their victims before fleeing the area.
The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Aliyu Sa'ad, confirmed the attack to PUNCH Online on Tuesday in an exclusive telephone interview. "The attackers came on the night of Monday and launched a bloody attack on two houses, burnt the houses and killed one police officer and seven civilians during the attack," Sa'ad said. The police inspector was attached to the Gaya Divisional Police Headquarters, according to local sources.
The Adamawa State Police Command also confirmed the incident, with the command's spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroje, stating that five bodies – four civilians and a police inspector – were recovered after the attackers fled. Nguroje noted that troops, vigilantes and hunters had been deployed to pursue the assailants. He added that the command would provide further details as more information became available.
Local sources, however, told SaharaReporters that three members of the same family were among those killed in the attack. The suspected insurgents were said to have emerged from the direction of the Sambisa Forest and stormed the community at about 3 p.m., operating for some time before fleeing the area. The attackers reportedly moved from shop to shop, looting medicines, foodstuffs and agricultural chemicals before escaping ahead of the arrival of security personnel.
The Hong Local Government Area chairman disclosed that the military, police, hunters and other security agencies had been deployed to the area to search for the attackers. However, residents expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the area, saying repeated attacks and the activities of suspected insurgents were threatening their livelihoods. They said the insecurity could prevent farmers from accessing their farms, particularly as the rainy season has intensified farming activities across the area.
Gaya District lies close to the Sambisa Forest, a vast forested area in neighbouring Borno State that has historically served as a hideout and operational base for Boko Haram and other insurgent groups. A proposed military barracks at Garaha, near one of the major routes used by insurgents into the Sambisa Forest, is yet to commence operations, according to the council chairman. Hong Local Government Area is also the hometown of two former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha.
The latest attack adds to the security challenges confronting Hong Local Government Area, which has witnessed repeated attacks linked to insurgency in recent months. Residents have appealed to the Federal and Adamawa State governments to urgently strengthen security operations around Gaya and other communities bordering the Sambisa Forest to prevent further incursions by insurgents. As the search for the attackers continues, the community of Gaya is left to mourn its dead and hope that the security forces will act decisively to prevent the next tragedy.
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